Vacuum cleaner



Juvne 17, 1941. w. J. cLEMENTs VACUUM CLEANER Filed July 1, 1959 2Sheets-Sheet 1 W. J. CLEMENTS June 17, 1941.

VACUUM CLEANER Filled July 1, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 mf @Zeman/5,

fittorzgg/S.

Patented June 17, 1941 VACUUM CLEANER William J. Clements, Chicago,lll., assignor to Clements Mfg. Co., Chicago, Ill., a corporation oi'Illinois Application July 1, 1939, Serial No. 282,372

13 Claims. Cl. 23o-117) My invention relates to an improvement in vacuumcleaners.

One purpose is the provision of an improved vacuum cleaner of the typein which the dust bag, motor and fan are enclosed within a housing.Another 4purpose is the provision of an improved -fan and motor unit foruse iny such housmg.

Another purpose is the provision of a fan and motor unit which can beunitarily removed from such a housing.

Another purpose is the provision of an improved I fan structure.

Other purposeswill appear from time to time in the course of thespecicatlon and claims.

I illustrate my invention more or less diagrammatically in theaccompanying drawings wherein: l

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section of a cleaner casy ing with some of themechanism inside elevatio Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the strainer andfan parts;

Fig. 3 is a rear elevation with back cover removed;

Like parts are indicated by like symbols *35 throughout the speclcationand drawings.

Referring to the drawings, I generally indicates a tubular orcylindrical housing, which has at one end a ring 2, including a angeportion 3 which ts about the exterior of one end of the housing I. 4indicates any suitable screws or lother securing means whereby the ringmay be secured to the housing. 5 indicates a spider structure extendinggenerally radially inwardly from the ring and supporting the inner hubIi, herein shown as unitary with the spider and ring. 1 is any suitableremovable covering or cap having any suitable air outlet apertures 8. 9is a ring of rubber or the like set within a central aperture of the hubB. I0 generally indicates a shield or lring having a circumferentialflange II and a central air aperturev I2, which element forms part ofthe fan assembly. Extending inwardly from the inner edge of the ring I0are supports I3, which carry an inner ring I4, which extend inwardly inthe form of ribs, as at I5,

and are provided with ledge abutments I6, which receive the motor eldlaminations Il. The bearing sleeve I8 is mounted upon inwardly extendingarms I9 unitary with the above described structure. Any suitableanti-friction bearings 20 may be mounted in the sleeve I8 to support themotor shaft 2|, which carries any suitable motor armature rotatingwithin the field laminations I'I.

22 is an abutment ring abutting against the' opposite end of the groupof iield laminations I1. Any suitable means, for example bolts 23, maybe employed for clamping it and for thereby holdingy the laminations IIagainst the abutment ledges I 6 of the members I5. The ring 22 also isadapted to support any suitable brushes as upon thebridge 25, whichbrushes cooperate with the commutator of the motor. 26 is a generallycylindrical outer extension of the bridge 25, which penetrates thecentral aperture within the rubber sleeve 3.

Any. suitable switch structure may be used, generally indicated as28,29, the details of which do not of ,themselves form part of thepresent invention. I illustrate, however, two separate outwardlyextending manually manipulatable switchmembers 30, 3l. 32 indicates anysuitable conductive line extending to any suitable source of electricpower not herein shown.

Mounted upon the flange II of the ring I0 is a fan housing structure,which includes two nesting cylindrical housing members 40, 4I, carryinginwardly 'extending partition walls 42, 43, each centrally apertured asat 44, 45, the central aperture 'beingbordered by an inturned lip 46,41. The two members 40, 4I are secured as shown in Fig. 2. They providea fan housing separated into two main compartments. In order to sup-`port the ring III for ready endwise removal'from the housing I,I'provide' a yielding compressible ring 48 of rubber or the like.Unitary locking means, such as the screws 49, may be employed forlocking the rubber ring 48 between the flanges 50, 5I, of the members 40and 4I, respectively.

Mounted on one face of the wall 42, I provide an additional partition53, the outer edge of which terminates short of the inner face of themember 4I. 'Ihis partition is centrally apertured as at 54 and carries aplurality of xed vanes 55, preferably somewhat inclined from the radial.

Mounted on the outer face of the partition wall 43 is an air filterassembly, which includes the ring 60, which may be riveted as at 6I tothe wall 43. vThe ring is provided with an inclined portion or ledge 62and an' intermediate portion 63, provided with air inlets 64. The ring60 carries at its outer edge the unitary cylindrical wall 65 having aledge 55 adapted to receive a filter structure, including rings 61, 68,having abutting outwardly extending ilanges 69, 10, secured together asby'an enveloping circumferential rubber ring 1|, generally `li-shaped incross section. yInwardly extending ilanges 12, 13 embrace any suitablefilter structure, which may be formed by layers of mesh 14, 15, with anysuitable intermediate packing confined therebetween. The filter ring maybe locked in position as by the inwardly offset portions 11.

The motor shaft 2| is shown as having an extension 80 into the fanhousing. It may be positioned inrelation to the bearing 20 in any 83,and 84. Mounted on the shaft extension 80 and spaced by the sleeve 8|,are fan discs 85, 86, each carrying a plurality of arcuate vanes 81,which support rings 88, 89,' apertured at 88a and 89a. The inner end ofthe shaft extension 80 is screw threaded as at 90 and receives a lockingnut 9|, abutting against a washer 92 and a sleeve 93, the fan disc 86being coniined between the washers 83 and 84. v

It will be observed, as in Fig.' `2, that, in response'to the'rotationof the motor and of the fan structure,.air is drawn inwardly in thedirection oi'- the 'arrows through the illter and the foraminous plate63. Air then passes through Vthe aperture 45 and into the iirst fan,being directed voutwardly toward the inner face of the wall 4|. It thenpasses inwardly along the ilxed bailles 55 through the central aperture54, and

also about the edge of the baille 53, and is then directed outwardly bythe second fan. Air is deilected by the ring I0 and passes about theabove described motor structure and then upwardly through the spider 5to the air outlet passage 8, thus cooling the motor. n 4

It will be noted that the entire fan-and motor assembly canbe readilyand unitarilyre'moved l from the housing by simply releasing the screws4 and the below described runner structure.

Another ring I 00 is mounted at the opposite end of the housing. Therings 2 and |00 are both provided with outwardly extending lugs |0|,which may be apertured as at |02 to receive the recurvedupbent ends |03of any suitable runner structures |04.

||4 adapted to receive any suitable suction inlet y or hose connectionH5, which is provided with a bayonet slot I6 adapted to receive anysuitable locking pin ||1. ||8 is any suitable carrying handle secured tothevtop of the housing It will be observed that the housing cap 1 i;apertured as at 21 to permit the entry of the conductive connection 32.'I'he relation between the aperture and the conductive connection issuch that the cap 1 can be removed without disturbing the conductiveconnection. 'I'he switch structure 28, 29, 30, 3| may also be readilygisconnected from the housing and Withdraw!! It win be realized thatwhereas I have de scribed and illustrated a practical and operativedevice, nevertheless many changes may be made in the size, shape, numberand disposition of parts 'without departing from the spirit oi myinvention. I therefore wish my description and drawings to be taken asin a broad sense illustrative or diagrammatic, rather than as limitingme to my precise showing. .The use and operation of my invention are rasfollows:

I provide a unitary open-ended tubular housing to which the oppositeends of the rings 2 and |00 are applied and from which they may bereadily removed i1' necessary. Air flows inwardly through the hoseconnection ||5 from any suitable suction nozzle not herein shown.

This air, lled With dirt, OWs into the interior of the bag |06'and isconstrained to ilow through the fabric or mesh oi' which the bag isformed,

there depositing the dust or dirt which it carries. 'I'he air then flowsthrough the filter structure,

which includes the brous material 16. It desired, any suitabledisinfectant may be employed to impregnate the filter structure. The airthen ported upon the ring 2 and its associated spider."

structure, and since the rin'g 48 is slideable in relation to thehousing the entire motor and fan imit, althoughV readily removable, isalso sumciently supported in a vibration preventing relationship to thehousing l.

I claim:

1. In a motor and fan assembly for vacuum cleaners, a plurality of motorfield .laminations,

a motor rotor,l a centrally apertured shield mem' ber at one .side ofsaid laminations, said aperture being bounded by an air directing lipspaced substantially inwardly from the housing wall, a

spider spanning said aperture, a motor shaft bearing in said spider, amotor bearing and brush supporting frame member opposed to the oppositeside of the laminations, brushes mounted thereon, a bearing thereon forthe opposite end said aperture, a motor shaft bearing in said.

spider, a motor bearing and brush supporting frame member opposed to theopposite side of the laminations, brushes mounted thereon, a

bearing thereon-for the opposite end of the motor shaft, means'forsecuring said shield and said frame member together about said fieldlaminations, a fan housing mounted on said shie1d,'a centrally aperturedpartition therein, and fans mounted on the motor shaft at opposite sidesof- .said partition.

3. In a vacuum cleaner. a generallycylindrical I exterior housing, meansfor normally supporting portion oi' said motor, a fan housing' securedto said motor assembly, and a slideable supporting connection betweensaid fan housing and the interior of said cylindrical housing, includinga rubber washer secured to said fan housing and' adapted to act as aseal between said fan housing and the inner face of said cylindricalhousing.

- 4. In a vacuum'cleaner, agenerally cylindrical exterior housing, meansfor normally supporting it in generally 'horizontal position, a motorand ian assemblyl entirely contained therein, and

means for securing said motor and fan assembly to said housing,including a ring engaging an end of the housing, a spider in said ring,a generally central hub in said spider, the motor assembly including aportion penetrating said hub, a fan housing secured to'said motorassembly, and. a slidable supporting connection between said fan housingand the interior of said cylindrical housing, including a rubber washersecured to said fan housing and adapted to act as a seal between saidfan housing and the inner face of said cylindrical housing.

5. In a motor and fan assembly for vacuum cleaners, a centrallyapertured shield member, the central vaperture of which terminates in aninwardly extending, free, air-directing lip, a spider spanning saidaperture, a bearing supported by said spider, a motor shaft in saidbearing, a fan housing mounted on and supported upon anouter edge ofsaid shield member, a fan on said motor shaft adapted-to rotate withinsaid housing, and a. motor including laminations secured in relation tosaid spider, said laminations lying within the path of the air deliveredacross the air-directing lip of said shield member.

6. In a motor and fan assembly for vacuum cleaners, a centrallyapertured shield member, the central aperture of which terminates in aninwardly extending, free, air-directing lip, a spider spanning saidaperture, a bearing supported by said spider, a motor shaft in saidbearing, a ian housing mounted on and supported upon an outer edge ofsaid shield member, a fan on said motor shaft adapted to rotate withinsaid housing, and a. motor including laminations secured in relation tosaid spider, said laminations lying within the path of the air deliveredacross the air-directing lip ofsaid shield member, and a ilexiblesupporting and spacing ring secured in relation to the outer edge ofsaid shield.

'1. In a motor and fan assembly for vacuum cleaners, a centrallyapertured shield member, the central apertureof which terminates in aninwardly extending, free, air-directing lip, a

spider spanning said aperture, a bearing supported by said spider, amotor shaft in said bearing, a fan housing mounted on and supported uponan outer edge of Ysaid shield member, a fan on said motor shaft adaptedto rotate within said housing, and a motor including laminationssecin'ed in relation to said spider, said laminations lying'withinthefpath of the air delivered across the air-directing lip of saidshield member, said ian housing including a `plurality of generallycylindrical nesting members having opposed outwardly extending flangesat one edge and inward-f ly extendingcentrally apertured -ilanges at theother edge, a iiexible spacing and supporting ring associated directlywith said outwardly extending flanges, and unitary means for securingsaid out wardly extending flanges and said flexible ring to said shieldmember.

8. In a vacuum cleaner, a generally cylindrical exterior housing, meansfor normally supporting it in generally horizontal position, a motor andfan' assembly entirely contained therein, and means for securing saidmotor and fan assembly to said housing, including a ring engaging an endof the housing, a generally central hub, and means for supporting itinsaid ring, the motor assembly including a portion penetrating said hub,a supporting element of yielding compressible material interposedbetween said hub and the penetrating portion of said motor, a fanhousing secured to said motor assembly, and a slidable supportingconnection :between said fan housing and the interior of saidcylindrical housing, including a rubber washer'secured to said fanhousing and adapted to act as a seal between said fan housing and theinner face of said cylindrical housing.

9. In a vacuum cleaner, a generally cylindrical exterior housing, meansfor normally supporting it in generally horizontal position, a motor andfan assembly entirely contained therein, and means for securing saidmotor and fan assembly to said housing, including a ring engaging an,end of the housing, a generallyl central hub, -and means for supportingit upon said ring, the mo.- tor assembly including a portion penetratingsaid hub, a fan housing secured to said motor assembly, and a. slidablesupporting connection between said fan housing and the interior of saidcylindrical housing, including a rubber washer secured to said ianhousing and adapted tol act as a seal between said fan housing and theAin,- ner face of said cylindrical housing.

10. In a motor and fan assembly for vacuum cleaners, a centrallyapertured shield member, the central aperture of which terminates in aninwardly extending, free, air-directing lip, av

bearing supported by said shield member, a motor shaft in said bearing,a fan housing mounted on and supported upon an outer edge of said shieldmember, a fan on said motor shaft adapted to rotate within said housing,,and a motor including laminations secured in relation to said shieldmember, said laminations lying within the t path of the air deliveredacross the air-directing lip of said shield member.

11. In a motor and fan assembly for vacuum cleaners, a centrallyapertured shield member, the central aperture oi' which terminates in aninwardly extending, free, air-directing lip, a bearing supported by saidshield member, a motor shaft in said bearing, a vlfan housing mounted onand supported upon an outer edge vof said shield member, a fan on saidmotor shaft adapted to rotate within said housingy'and a motor includinglaminations secured in relation to said shield member, saidy laminationslying within the path of the air delivered across the air-directing tlip of-said shield memlber, and a iiexible supporting and spacing ringsecured in relation to the outer edge of said shield member.

l 12. In a motor and ian assembly for vacuum.

cleaners, a centrally apertured shield member,

' A extending flanges and said exible ring to said th central apertureof which terminates ln an inwardly extending, free, air-directing lip, abearing' supported by said shield member, a 'motor shaft insaidjbearing", afan housing mounted on :and supported upon'jan outeredge oi said shield Imember, -a fan on said motor shaft adaptedtorotatewithin'said housing, anda motor including laminations secured inrelation to said shield member, said* laminations lying within the -pathof the air delivered across the air-directing lip'of-'said shieldmember, said i'an housingincludlng a plurality of generally cylindricalnesting members having opposed outwardly extending viiariges at one'edge and inwardly extending A centrally vapertured `flanges at theother edge. a ilegible spacing and supporting'ring associated directlywith said outwardly extending flanges,

and means for securing said outwardly 2o shield member.

y 13. In a vacuum cleaner, avgenerally cylindrical exterior housing,means for normally supporting it in generally horizontal position, amotor and ian assembly entirely contained therein, and meansior'securlng said motor and fan assembly to said housing, including aring engaging an end 4oi' the housing, a generally central hub, andmeans for supporting it upon said ring, the motor assembly including aportion pene- :trating said hub, a fan assembly secured to said motorassembly, and a slidable supporting con-v nection between said fanassembly and the interior of said cylindrical housing, including arubber washer secured to said fan assembly and adapted to act as a sealbetween said ian housing and the inner face .of said cylindricalhousing.

WILLIAM J. CLEMENTS.

